Chandigarh, September 13
In an order likely to affect over 150 bureaucrats and top cops in the state, the Punjab Police today directed all government officers — except Additional Secretaries and Principal Secretaries — to remove red blinkers from atop their vehicles. The permission to use the lights earlier granted to them was, subsequently, cancelled.
The police also directed all Additional Directors-General of Police (ADGPs) to follow suit by Tuesday. The orders were passed by ADGP Shashi Kant in just over a month after taking charge of security in the state.
The sources in police headquarters here claimed that the directions were issued by the ADGP this evening in accordance with a notification issued by the Punjab Government.
Going into the background of the matter, the sources said Mr Kant was studying a “plethora of administrative orders” issued by the Punjab Government in connection with the traffic regulation and pollution control case, when he discovered that the ADGPs were not entitled to use red blinkers.
Besides directing them against using the blinkers atop the vehicles, Mr Kant also shot off a letter to Punjab’s Director-General of Police, Mr A.A. Siddiqui, informing him about the decision.
The ADGP also found that a large number of government officers had been granted permission to use the blinkers even though they were not entitled to the same in light of the government notification. As per it, only Additional Secretaries and Principal Secretaries were entitled to use the blinkers.
The sources added that information regarding the decision was likely to be forwarded to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 15 — the date of on which the traffic control case was scheduled to be heard.
The High Court, in its orders, had earlier directed that only authorised officers with permission granted by the authority concerned, were entitled to use the blinkers. The order had also made helmets compulsory for both men and women riders and those on the pillion. Persons wearing turbans had, however, been granted exemption. The use of black films had also been banned. Exemption was provided only for security reasons.
The Bench, comprising Mr Justice Sat Pal and Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar, had also directed the punching of licence for each traffic offence. Licences were also made compulsory for conductors. The Administration was also told to demarcate parking areas in each sector for vehicles.
